Australian elite and grassroots sport will be supported with $120 million in funding through the next year from July.

The Minister for Sport Peter Dutton today announced the Australian Sports Commission would provide the funding to national sporting organisations (NSOs) and directly to eligible elite athletes.

Mr Dutton said Australian teams and athletes had produced some excellent outcomes recently on the world stage.

“The Kookaburras gold and Hockeyroos silver at the World Cup in the Netherlands and three gold and two silver medals at the World Track Cycling Championships in Columbia augur well for Australia as we head to the Commonwealth Games next month.

“This funding will provide the crucial support our athletes and sports will need as we look beyond the Commonwealth Games to the next Olympics in Rio.

“More than $12 million - the largest amount of financial support ever - would be allocated to assisting around 650 athletes through the AIS Direct Athlete Support scheme.

“The Government acknowledges and values the importance of sport in the lives of Australians which is why we are doing everything we can to support our athletes and also provide opportunities for everybody to participate,” Mr Dutton said.

Mr Dutton said nearly $20 million would be targeted to NSOs initiatives to boost participation in sport across Australia.

“This funding component for grassroots sport adds to the $100 million Sporting Schools initiative announced in the Budget which will provide 850,000 primary school age children access to sport.

“The health benefits of being active have been clearly articulated over the years and the Australian Government is urging all Australians to incorporate sport and activity in to their weekly routines to reap the rewards.”